IPL 2025 auction: 5 players Punjab Kings (PBKS) might target through RTM card

The Punjab Kings will go into the IPl 2025 auction with the largest purse among all 10 teams.

Another Indian Premier League (IPL) and another time the Punjab Kings (PBKS) will go an almost full revamp. The first major decision of new head coach Ricky Ponting was to retain only two players – Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crores) and Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crores) – both uncapped – ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.

The Kings will head into the mega auction with the largest purse (INR 110.5 crores) among all 10 franchises. Since they have retained only two players, they will have the option to utilise four Right-To-Match (RTM) cards in the mega auction, using which they could rope back in four capped players if they are bought by other teams.

Last season, Punjab had several international stars and T20 match-winners. They have released them but could get them back through RTM.

Five players Punjab Kings (PBKS) might target through RTM card in the IPL 2025 auction:

1. Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh would certainly be the top priority for PBKS to use their RTM card on. It was a surprise that Ponting let go of Arshdeep as he has been one of India’s best T20 bowlers over the last few years: he has picked up 64 wickets in the last four IPL seasons. The left-arm pacer was the joint-leading wicket-taker at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

A reason for releasing Arshdeep could be that Punjab may feel they could get him back in the auction for less than INR 18 crores, which would have been his retention price set by the BCCI for the first-choice capped player. However, given his terrific form and the dearth of quality Indian seamers, Arshdeep might fetch over INR 18 crores in the mega auction. So Punjab have taken a bit of a gamble on this, but they are expected use their RTM on Arshdeep.

2. Jitesh Sharma

Another surprise release from Punjab was that of Indian wicket-keeper batsman Jitesh Sharma, who is known for his attacking approach in the middle overs and has a strike rate of 151 in his three IPL seasons.

Jitesh has also made it to the Indian T20I squad as a back-up keeper and played nine T20Is though without much success. Nonetheless, the theory could be the same with Jitesh as Arshdeep: Punjab might have felt they could get back Jitesh in the auction through RTM for less than INR 14 crores and hence released him.

3. Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada is one of the best fast bowlers in the world across formats and was a key contributor to South Africa’s success at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

He was with Punjab for the last three IPL seasons at the price of INR 9.25 crores and snared 41 wickets in 30 outings. PBKS might use an RTM card on Rabada in the mega auction.

4. Harshal Patel

Another shocking release made by PBKS was that of the Purple Cap winner of IPL 2024, Harshal Patel. Known for his deceiving slower balls and cutters and his excellence in the second half of the innings, Harshal topped the wickets chart last season with 24 scalps in 14 games.

But he’s been released by Punjab, who bought him for INR 11.75 crores in the previous auction. However, one can strongly feel that Punjab may reserve one RTM card to use on Harshal as Indian bowlers of his experience, success, and death-overs smarts won’t be any in the mega auction.

5. Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone was bought by PBKS in the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 11.5 crores and didn’t do badly: in 30 games, he scored 827 runs at an average of 33 and strike rate of 169 while smashing six fifties and also took 11 wickets.

After being dropped from the England team earlier, Livingstone has found a second wind in his limited-overs international career recently. In his last nine international innings across the two white-ball formats, Livingstone has plundered 404 runs at an average of 67 and strike rate of 146 with two half-centuries and a maiden ODI ton.

Given Livingstone’s recent form and all-round abilities as a match-winner in white-ball cricket, PBKS would be really tempted to use an RTM card on the England all-rounder.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.